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Report: Leafs looking to trade up from eighth pick

Dave Nonis

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis answers questions during the Leafs final media availability of the season in Toronto on Thursday, May 16, 2013. The Maple Leafs were eliminated in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

AP

With their heartbreaking finish to the 2013-14 campaign still fresh in their fans’ minds, the Toronto Maple Leafs might make a big move before the NHL Entry Draft.

They currently control the eighth overall pick, but took time during the NHL combine to interview a projected top-three pick in a move that was “more than due diligence,” according to a Toronto Sun source.

The same source believes that the Maple Leafs are interested in moving up in the draft and while that doesn’t necessarily mean anything will happen, it’s not a far-fetched notion.

Keep in mind that both New York Islanders GM Garth Snow and Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon have confirmed that they are willing to trade down from the fifth and first overall picks respectively.

“I definitely will [be shopping the pick], especially this year,” Tallon said in May. “We had a couple of nibbles the day after we won [the lottery]. There were a couple guys calling to bust my chops, asking ‘what are you going to do?’ And that’s fine. It’s a good thing.”

Online bookmaker Bovada also recently gave 2/1 odds that the Panthers would trade their pick. They also gave 3/1 odds that Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri would be dealt. Kadri is rumored to be a player that might head to the Panthers as part of a trade for the top selection.

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